Plug for oil wells and apparatus for seating the same



Sept. 8, 1931. A. J. GALLAHER PLUG FOR OIL WELLS AND APPARATUS 'FOR SEATING THE SAME ,Filed April 1'7. 1930 Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT o ANDREW J'. GALLAHER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI FFICE PLUG Pon oIL WELLS AND APPARATUS PoR SEATING THE SAME V Application filed April 17,

This invention relates to means for closing oil wells and more particularly those wells in which great pressures exist and which cannot be closed by ordinary methods.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a plug with apparatus to be used for placing it which will be effective in closing oil wells where large pressures exist.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plug for oil wells with apparatus for placing it adapted to utilize the pressure of the well to assist in positioning the plug.

Other objects will be apparent from the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a View partly in section showing the device in connection with a easing after the first step has been taken toward placing the plug. y

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but with the plug in position.

Fig. 3 is a` view partly in section showing the plug in position and after the removal of the apparatus for placing it.

Fig. 4 is a view partly in section illustrating means and method for removal of the plug.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the plug element.

A plug 1 comprises a solid metallic piece having a bore 2 therethrough from its point to its upper end and having external threads 3 at its upper end to engage internal threads at the upper end of a nipple 4. A coupling 5 has internal threads on each end adapted to connect the nipple 4 to the A member 7 is secured to the upper end of the nipple 4. The member 7 is a shell having an end wall 8 which forms a chamber communicating with the bore 2. Its outer surface is cylindrical in form and is adapted to telescope inside a cylindrical member 9, forming with the member 9 a piston within a cylinder. The end wall 8 has an orifice 10 communicating with the interior of the cylinder 9. The cylinder 9 has an end wall 11 in which is secured a pipe 12 controlled by a valve 13.

A collar 14 is secured about the casing and and thereby assist well casing 6.

upper end of the plug 'engaged'by a tool such as shown in Fig. 4. After the plug is in posi- 1930.I semi No. 444,912.

carries pawls 15 adapted to grasp the casing and prevent thedisplacement of the collar 14.

Lugs 16 are carried by the collar 11i-and lugs 17V`are carried the Cables 18 of equal len end to a lug16 and lug 17.

cylindrical member 9.

gth are attached at one at the otherl end to a VIn operation of the device the assembly ust described is made with the casing.

point ofthe plug 1 is the casing, as shown i Y The inserted in the yhead of n Fig. 1. The pressure from the well passesv through the bore 2,

formed by 7 and 9.

has the tendency both to upend the device to a vertical position and to force the Ipiston member l7 downward,

into the casing.

thus forcing theplug ie coupling 5 is then screwed into -the casing 6, as shownA inlFig. i

2. the valve 13 may In the preceding operation thus described, be closed or partly closed,

depending upon the well pressure.

p After the coupling the casing the valvefhas been secured to 13 may be opened 'and the member 7 removed from thenipple 4.

The plug will then be Ain the condition shown in Fig. 3, the well flowing through the bore 2. A gate valve 19 nipple 4 whereby they controlled as desired.

The plug 1 may be provided with may be secured to the flow of the wellv may be spiral grooves 2O Awhereby the contentsof the well flowing against the plug will cause it'to spin I, in placing thevplug and screwing the coupling 5O to the casing 6."

An angular socket tion and the well has time, the well 21 is provided inf'the 1 and is adapted to be been flowing for some pressure may be so decreased as to make it desirable to 'In that' case the wrench 22 socket 21 may be used remove the plug.

operating 1n' the to unscrew the plug i from the nipple so that it may beremoved through the valve 19. While vthis device has l been described in connection with plugging the casing of an loil well it is obvious that it may be applied to closing any conduit Which carries fluids under pressure.

Itis also obvious that various changes may be made in the details of construction Within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

l. A device of the class described comprising a conical plug having a passage therethrough, a fitting adapted to secure the plug to a Well casing When in position, and means operable by the pressure of the Well to assist in forcing the plug to position.

2. A device of the class described comprising a conical plug having a passage therethrough, a fitting adapted to secure the plug to the Well casing when in position, a piston and cylinder operable by the Well pressure :communicated through said passageway to the cylinder, and arranged and adapted to assist in forcing the plug to position.

3. A device of the class described comprising a conical plug having a passage therethrough, a fitting adapted to secure the plug -to ,a Well casing When in position, a member secured to the plug, a second member telescoping said first member and forming a pressure 'chamber therewith, means for securing the second member to the Well casing, and means Whereby'the pressure of the well may `be-cormnunicated through said passage to said chamber.

4. A device of the class described compri-sing a coni-cal plug having a passage therethrough,.a fitting adapted to secure the plug to a well casing when in position, means operable by the pressure of the Well to lassist in forcing the plug to position, and means ex- 4ternal of the .plug whereby the pressure of the Well will exert a spinning movement to said plug.

5. A device of the class described comprising a conical plug having .a passage therethrough, a nipple secured by a ythreaded connection about the plug, a fitting adapted to secure the nipple to a Well-casing, a gate valve adapted to be secured to the upper end of said nipple, and means on the upper end of the plug adapted to be engaged by a tool passing throughsaid valve for the removal of the plug from the nipple.

6. A -device of the class described comprisng a conical plug having aa passage therethrough, a iitting adapted to secure the plug to a well casing when in position, a hollow piston .member -secured to said plug, a cylindrical member having a closed upper end and positioned about said piston member, means :for .securing the cylindrical member to the well '.casing, and means for communicating ythe Well pressure through said passage in the plug to the cylindrical member.

ANDREV J. GALLAHLER. 

